niel: for the Words are closed up, and fealed till the Time of the End. When the proper Seafon comes, poffibly in fome Cafes not before the Event hath interpreted them, the Prophe cies will prove their own Reality by their Clearnefs; and ftrengthen, perhaps in an Hour of much Need, the Faith and Patience of the Saints: Thus it happened to the Apostles. They understood not beforehand our Saviour's Prediction, Destroy this Temple, and in three Days I will raife it up. But when he was rifen from the Dead, they remembered, that he had faid this unto them: and they believed the Scripture, and the Word which Jefus had faid.

But almoft the whole of the Gospels is now fo clear, and both the Character and the Precepts of our bleffed Lord appear in them fo truly divine; the Zeal and Charity of the first Disciples in the Acts is so highly edifying, the Spirit of the Epiftles fo genuinely Chriftian, and their practical Rules are fo completely inftructive to all Sorts of Perfons; that scarce any other Direction can be wanted for the Main of the New Teftament, than to meditate on it continually. Some of the argumentative and occafional Parts of St. Paul's Writings indeed y Dan. xii. 8, 9. 2 Rev. xiii. 10. * John ii. 19, 22.

it is not easy to comprehend. A yet larger Proportion of the Revelation of St. John is exceedingly mysterious. But nothing of this Kind, in any Part of Scripture, needs either to difcourage, or miflead us. Not to difcourage us; for whatever is requisite to be understood, if it be put in one Place obfcurely, is doubtless put in fome other plainly: nor to mislead us, because we may prudently fufpend our Judgement, and modeftly be content with our Ignorance of what is intended, though fully fatisfied of its being a valuable Truth. Seek not out, faith the Son of Sirach, the Things that are too hard for thee, neither fearch the Things that are above thy Strength: But what is commanded thee, think thereupon with Reverence: for it is not needful for thee to fee with thine Eyes the Things that are in fecret. Be not curious in unneceffary Matters: for more Things are fhewed unto thee, than Men underfland.

Yet we are not to omit reading the abftrufer Texts, which have any Appearance of relating to us but follow the Example of the blessed Virgin, who understood not several of our Saviour's Sayings, yet kept them all in her Heart". Were we only to learn Humility thus, it would • Luke ii. 50, 51.

» Eccluf. iii. 21, 22, 23.

1

be

be enough; but we fhall come by Degrees to apprehend far more than we expected, if we diligently compare spiritual Things with Spiritual è; darker Expreffions with clearer, that are like or oppofite to them: for Contraries illuftrate one another. In this laudable Work, the marginal References in the later Editions of the Bible will afford you most useful Afsistance: for they are very judiciously chofen. Such Information also as you can get, (and you may get much from feveral Books,) of the Nature of the Language of each Teftament, and the History and Notions of the Times, when each Book of it was written, will be extremely pro fitable and the feveral excellent Commentaries and Paraphrafes on the whole, or particular Parts of it, ftill more: which therefore it is wonderful that so few Chriftians in Proportion, of those who are well able, will be at the Expence of purchafing for themselves; especially confidering how very much greater Expences, that will turn either to no Account or a bad one, they fo little grudge, that they cannot be reftrained from them.

But how fuccessfully foever we may increase our Knowledge of Scripture, that alone is no

thing. We must not think we have done with a Paffage as foon as we have understood it. If we had underflood it inftantly, our principal Work was to come yet: and they are ftrangely wrong, who apply fo clofely to ftudy difficult Places, that they forget to make due Reflections on the plain. The Word of God was written to give us, not merely a fpeculative Apprehenfion, but an experimental Senfe and Feeling of holy Things, comfortable or terrifying, as our spiritual State requires. I rejoice at thy Word, as one that findeth great Spoil, faith the Pfalmift *. To this Man will I look, faith the Lord, even to Him that is poor and of a contrite Spirit, and that trembleth at my Word'. Too many, alas, have no Conception of this Efficacy in Scripture: and no Wonder, for they have never seriously endeavoured to have any. But let them try in Earneft, and they will infallibly fucceed, if they ufe proper Means. We read of fome, what will be true of all in the fame Condition, that the Word did not profit them, not being mixed with Faith. God indeed can operate according to his own Pleasure: but humanly speaking, Perfons will not be influenced by what they difbelieve; or much, by what they believe but

• Pf. cxix. 162.

f If. lxvi. 2.

• Heb. iv. 2.

faintly.

J

faintly. Nay fhould they labour to make the ftrongeft Impreffions on their own Souls, without applying to Him, whofe Gift faving Faith ish, their Efforts would be vain. But let any one jointly strive and pray for a deep Conviction, that the Bible is the appointed Inftrument of his religious Proficiency: then let him read it, not as performing a Tafk, he knows not why, from which he had rather be excufed; not to outshine others in Readiness of Quotation, or Plaufibility of Interpreting, or Oppofitions of Sciense falfely fo called'; not to furnish himself with Weapons for Debate and Controversy, much less for Uncharitableness and Abuse; but to amend his inward State towards God that, as the excellent Collect in our Liturgy directs, by the Patience in well doing and Comfort in virtuous Suffering, which we learn of his holy Word, we may embrace and ever bold faft the bleffed Hope of everlasting Life. Let him ac cordingly stop on fit Occafions, and think: What Confolations doth this Paffage adminifter to me? What Acknowledgements to Heaven doth this Declaration require from me? What Fear for myself doth this Threatening call for ? * Second Sunday

h Eph. ii. 8. in Advent.

1 Tim. vi. 20.

What